Serbia assumes OSCE presidency, focuses on co-operation

Serbia assumes OSCE presidency, focuses on co-operation

Serbia hopes to contribute to defusing the crisis in Ukraine and better relations in Southeast Europe during its year in the OSCE presidency.

Serbian Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Ivica Dacic speaks at an OSCE meeting at the Hofburg Congress Centre in Vienna on January 15th. [AFP]

Serbia, which assumed the one-year presidency of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) on January 15th, has announced that its priorities will be a peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis, as well as improving relations in Southeast Europe.

"The principles that will govern Serbia during its chairmanship of the OSCE are peaceful disputes settlement, strengthening trust, solidarity, responsibility and co-operation. This will be the main items which will guide us in addressing the challenges we face," Serbian Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairman Ivica Dacic told SETimes.

Dacic has visited Ukraine, which will be a major challenge during the Serbian presidency. Serbia has good relations with Russia and Ukraine, which is hoped to be an advantage in resolving the dispute.

"Serbia is ready to act as an honest broker in this process, and to use the advantages that the OSCE offers as an organisation in an impartial and transparent manner," Dacic said.

Aleksandar Mitic, the chairman of the Belgrade Centre for Strategic Alternatives, told SETimes that Serbia "would not risk entering into conflict with the West and Russia over Ukraine, regardless of affinity that the Serbian public or leaders may have with the parties involved in the dispute."

"Although the OSCE is an important forum for the Ukrainian question, it is certainly not the...